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Abstract:

Stabilizer device for an operating machine, having a chassis with a pair
of stabilizer means associated to one of two opposite ends thereof. They
include two stabilizer arms constrained to be symmetric with respect to a
vertical middle plane and equipped with feet for resting on the ground.
Each stabilizer arm includes a first, straight segment bound with one
first end to the chassis and one second segment hinged to the second end
of the first segment. The first and second segments are aimed at being
mutually positioned in a retracted position (R) in which the encumbrance
of said stabilizer arm remains within the operating machine maximum size
limits, and an extended, in-operation position (L), in which the related
resting foot is in contact with the ground. The axes of both first
segments of said pair are included in the same plane, that is
perpendicular to the middle plane.

Claims:

1. A stabilizer device for an operating machine, having a chassis with a
pair of stabilizer means associated to at least one of two opposite ends
of it; said single pair including two stabilizer arms constrained to be
symmetric with respect to a vertical middle plane and equipped with feet
for resting on the ground; each said stabilizer arm including a first,
straight segment bound with one first end to said chassis and at least
one second segment hinged to the second end of said first segment; said
first and second segments being designed to be mutually positioned in a
retracted position (R) in which the encumbrance of said stabilizer arm
remains within the operating machine maximum size limits, and an
extended, in-operation position (L), in which the related resting foot is
in contact with the ground; the axes of both first segments of said pair
being included in the same plane, that is perpendicular to said middle
plane; the axes of both first segments of said pair being convergent to a
point (P) lying on said middle plane; and arranged symmetrically with
respect to said middle plane; said second end of said first segment of
each said stabilizer arm being driven to move by shifting along the axis
of the related said first segment from a retracted, minimum extension
position, to an outer, maximum extension position, by means of a linear
actuator; characterized in that the second segment is driven so as to
rotate, in response to control commands, about a gudgeon, integral with
the second end by means of a linear actuator or a hydraulic cylinder; a
first end of the linear actuator or hydraulic cylinder being hinged to
the second end by means of a gudgeon; a second end of said linear
actuator or hydraulic cylinder being bound to the "free" end of the
second segment in correspondence to the gudgeon, to which the foot is
coupled to said "free" end of the second segment.

2. A device, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said linear
actuators of each first segment of the single stabilizer arm of each pair
are co-aligned with the axes of the related first segments and have
respective ends hinged about the same axis lying in said middle plane.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that a pair of said
stabilizer arms is associated to two opposite ends of said chassis.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that said two opposite
ends are respectively the front one and the rear one of the chassis of a
mobile operating machine.

Description:

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a stabilizer device for an operating
machine.

[0002] In particular, but not exclusively, the invention can be
advantageously used in road or on-site operating machines, like for
example, lifting mechanisms, cranes, lifting platforms, etc.

[0003] These types of machines are usually self-propelled and
consequently, they must have prefixed maximum limits of the overall size
when they travel on the road.

[0004] On the other hand, in the working configuration, the same machines
must have a suitable stability configuration that allows them to work in
full safety to lift and in general to move loads. For this reason, they
are provided with stabilizer members or means, which are put in position
when operated to assume the working configuration, in correspondence to
which they extend well beyond the machine profile, i.e. the prefixed
maximum limits of the overall size, occupying a substantial space all
around it. This is the case of the stabilizer means, which, when the
machine is stationary, are unfolded like "legs" which are equipped with
suitable feet for resting on the ground. The machine is normally
supported on these feet. Obviously, in order to obtain the maximum
stability, one tries to make the perimeter that contains the resting area
as big as possible or anyway, such that facilitates stability as much as
possible. This means, in most applications, to put the resting feet at
the largest possible mutual distance and consequently to provide
removable "legs", of telescopic type, or folding, for example of hinged
type.

[0005] Anyhow, in all cases, it is necessary to take into consideration
the dimensions imposed by the maximum size limits allowed for on-road
travelling. Among the various solutions proposed by the prior art there
is one worth remembering, the arrangement of stabilizers constituted by
extendable "legs", formed substantially by pairs of telescopic,
extendable beams, arranged in cross fashion and fixed on the fore side of
the machine chassis as well as on its rear side. These are real box-like
beams provided with hydraulically powered extension, that are fixed so as
to be crossed and superimposed in order to have extension length as long
as possible. Since the beams transversal dimensions are not negligible at
all, due to strength and rigidity, this overlaying, that occurs both at
the front and at the back, produces an undesirable drawback of a "clear"
increase of the overall length of the chassis and machine, equal to the
double dimension of one of the mentioned beams. A drawback that,
ultimately, results in a series of functional limitations of the machine.

[0006] The present invention, as it is defined by the claims and the
present description, is substantially focused on the solution of the
limits and drawbacks of the illustrated prior art.

[0007] The main advantages of the invention with respect to the prior art
can be found in a greater compactness of the stabilizer devices and in a
better and more effective arrangement of the various parts forming them.

[0008] Further characteristics will result more evident from the following
description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated by
way of example, not limiting, in the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0013] FIG. 5 is the same front view of FIG. 3 in the maximum extension,
in-operation configuration.

[0014] The enclosed Figures include also some schematic illustrations that
show stabilizer devices being a part of the prior art, applied to an
operating machine 100, which is self-moving and thus provided with wheels
101.

[0015] Such machine is provided, at the front and at the back, with
stabilizer members or means which are used when they are moved to
in-operation configuration, in correspondence to which they extend well
beyond the machine profile, i.e. beyond the prefixed maximum limits of
the overall size for the on-road travelling, occupying a considerable
space outside the machine. These are stabilizer means 103 which, when the
machine is stationary, are unfolded like "legs" which are equipped with
feet for resting on the ground, so as to allow taking a suitable
stability configuration, which allows the machine to work in full safety
to lift and in general to move loads. Obviously, in order to obtain the
maximum stability, one tries, by resting the feet on the ground, to make
the perimeter that contains the resting area as large as possible or
anyway, such that facilitates stability as much as possible. This means
to put the resting feet at the biggest possible mutual distance.

[0016] In the illustrated example of the prior art, the stabilizer members
103 are constituted by telescopic type extendable "legs" 102, which, when
in the retracted position, must be in the minimum extension
configuration, so as to allow the machine to stay within the admitted
(transversal) profile, while in the in-operation position, they must take
their maximum possible extension configuration.

[0017] In order to obtain, with a retracted position requested by the
respect of the machine admitted profile, with the configuration as
extended as possible, the telescopic type extendable "legs" 102 are
formed by pairs of real extendable telescopic beams, which, just in order
to exploit the maximum length of the segments of the telescopic
structure, are arranged characteristically one close to another so as not
to interfere one with another, and thus possibly to be arranged to form
an overlaying cross at the fore side of the machine chassis as well as at
the rear side thereof.

[0018] It is to be noted that these are real box-like beams, provided with
hydraulic extension, whose transversal dimensions are not negligible at
all, due to strength and rigidity reasons.

[0019] Besides an asymmetry problem, this results in a consequent
longitudinal encumbrance, equal to the sum of the transversal dimensions
of the two beams.

[0020] The embodiment of the invention shows a self-moving operating
machine having wheels 6, which is provided with a stabilizer device,
firmly associated to the chassis 1 of the operating machine.

[0021] A pair of stabilizer members is associated to each of the two
opposite ends of the chassis 1 (only to one end, in other, not
illustrated embodiments).

[0022] Each single pair includes two stabilizer arms 2 constrained to be
symmetric with respect to a vertical middle plane 3, and equipped with
feet 4 for resting on the ground 5.

[0023] Each stabilizer arm 2, in turn, includes a first straight segment
21, bound with one first end to the chassis 1, and at least one second
segment 22 hinged to the second end 25 of the first segment 21.

[0024] The first segments 21 of each pair of stabilizer arms 2 are fixed
integrally to the fore and rear ends of the chassis 1 by means of solid
plates 7.

[0025] The first segment 21 and the second segment 22 of each pair of
stabilizer arms 2 are aimed at being mutually positioned in a retracted
position R, in which the encumbrance of the stabilizer arm 2 is within
the maximum size limits admitted to the operating machine, and an
extended, in-operation position L, in which the related resting foot 4 is
in contact with the ground 5.

[0026] The axes of both the first segments 21 of each pair of stabilizer
arms 2 present the peculiarity of being contained in the same plane,
which is perpendicular to the middle plane 3. The latter normally
coincides with the longitudinal middle plane of the operating machine.

[0027] The axes of both the first segments 21 of each pair of stabilizer
arms 2 are convergent to a point P lying on the middle plane 3.

[0028] Furthermore, the first segments 21 are arranged symmetrical with
respect to the middle plane 3.

[0029] The second end 25 of the first segment 21 of each said stabilizer
arm 2 is driven to move by shifting along the axis of the related first
segment 21 from a retracted, minimum extension position, to an outer,
maximum extension position, by means of a linear actuator 23, which, in
this case, is constituted by a hydraulic cylinder.

[0030] The second segment 22 is operated into rotation, in response to
control commands, about a gudgeon 26, integral with the second end 25, by
means of a linear actuator 27, also in this case constituted by a
hydraulic cylinder. The linear actuator 27 is hinged to the second end 25
by means of a gudgeon 28. The other end of the linear actuator 27 is
bound to the "free" end of the second segment 22, in correspondence to
the gudgeon 29, to which the foot 4 is coupled.

[0031] The linear actuators 23 of each first segment 21 of the single
stabilizer arm 2 of each pair are co-aligned with the axes of the related
first segments 21 and have respective ends hinged about the same axis
lying in said middle plane 3.

[0032] The stabilizer arms 2, of the pair situated at the front as well as
of the pair situated at the back, carry out their function when they are
moved to the in-operation configuration L, in which they extend well
beyond the machine profile, i.e. beyond the prefixed maximum limits of
the overall size admitted for on-road travelling, occupying a
considerable space outside the machine.

[0033] The stabilizer arms are operated when the machine is stationary:
they are operated by performing a kind of "opening" or unfolding from the
retracted position R, in which both the linear actuator 23 and the linear
actuator 27 are in the minimum extension configuration, until they reach
the in-operation position L, in which both the linear actuator 23 and the
linear actuator 27 are in the maximum extension configuration.

[0034] Reversal passage from the working position L to the retracted, or
folded position R is obtained by reversing the movement directions.

[0035] The invention presents, among others, the advantage of realizing a
considerable and large distance between the supports on the ground of the
stabilizer arms of each pair (fore and/or rear).